After reading today’s lections these 3 questions popped into my head:

 In what do we trust?

            Who do we trust?

       Where do we find life?…

“When they had brought their boats to shore,
they left everything and followed him.”

 Sounds like all of the stories of calling in Scripture, right….?

I am struggling. 

I think most of us, if not all of us, are struggling.

 Some of us are struggling with our bodies:
           with unrelenting pain,
                        or new diagnoses, 
or diseases that are chronic…
that we learn how to manage as best we can,
            and we are grateful for times of relief….

In today’s gospel story we hear that:
“Jesus,
filled with the power of the Spirit,   
                                 returned to Galilee.”

 Where had he been?

Are you a glass half-full
or a glass half-empty kind of person…?

Today we gather to celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord…
         and our own baptisms alongside that of Jesus.

As today’s Gospel begins,
we hear that “the people were filled with expectation….”

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
           and the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you!

When I was growing up our diocesan cathedral held a service called,
“The Feast of Lights,”
      which celebrated Epiphany and the arrival of the three kings.  

Does anyone remember Advent calendars? 

I looked for one this year but could not find one…
granted I didn’t look that hard!

Today the voice of John the Baptist still echoes from the walls… 

            “You brood of vipers!

       Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

            Get over yourselves and let go of your arrogance.

      Even as we speak, the ax is lying at the root of the trees.

            Time is short: bear fruits worthy of repentance….”

For what do you hope?        
            For what do you hope?

 Today is the first day of Advent.

            It is a season of waiting.

 It is a season of preparation and anticipation:
            for birth…
   and for re-birth….